The Patricia Huffman Smith NASA Museum will honor the legacy of the Space Shuttle Columbia with its annual commemoration of the 2003 tragedy that unfolded in the skies over East Texas.
On Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, the public is invited to the museum in Hemphill, Texas to take part in a solemn observance in memory of the seven-member crew of Columbia’s STS-107 mission.
The museum will open at 7:30 a.m., with the program beginning 15 minutes later. A moment of silence will be observed at the time NASA lost contact with the orbiter’s crew. The names of the astronauts, as well as two volunteers who lost their lives during the 2003 search and recovery effort will be read aloud.
Sunday’s program will also include a presentation by Frank Hughes, who retired as NASA’s Chief of Space Flight Training after 33 years at the agency.
Free admission will be offered all day Sunday, as the museum is also marking its 15th anniversary of operation.
That afternoon, the museum’s theater will host a special screening of the documentary ‘Of Good Courage,’ which chronicles the extraordinary call of duty answered by the people of Sabine County who participated in the 2003 recovery efforts. Members of the community are asked to bring a photo of anyone who volunteered during the recovery 23 years ago. These will be on display and eventually included in the museum’s permanent archive.
First-time and return visitors are invited to explore the museum’s 3,400-square-foot main gallery, which features displays documenting Space Shuttle Columbia’s 28 missions, STS-107 artifacts, scale models, a flown-in-space shuttle launch suit, and a visual account of Columbia’s final mission and the recovery effort that followed. A shuttle flight deck simulator constructed by former NASA engineers allows visitors to take the controls and experience a virtual landing of the Space Shuttle. Also part of the permanent collection — the accomplishments and personalities of the STS-107 crew members are illustrated through personal items and photos donated by their families.
A gift shop also features a wide variety of souvenirs, from apparel and astronaut food, to books, DVDs and NASA patches, including the ‘Hail & Farewell’ Columbia patch, which is available exclusively at the museum.
The Patricia Huffman Smith NASA Museum is located at 375 Sabine Street in Hemphill.
Social Media